Putting Others First

Several months ago I read a book by Jared Wilson titled, “The story of Everything.” One of the things that stuck with me from the second chapter is that in essence all of us are narcissists at heart, meaning that everyone of us considers ourselves to be the most important person in our own lives.

What do you think? is that a fair and accurate statement?

As you ponder the question I’d like you to consider how you respond when someone arriving after you gets served before you at a restaurant, at an automotive service department, at the deli counter or at the doctors office. In addition, how do you respond when you’re cut off in traffic, at an exit, or in a parking lot or garage when someone takes the parking space you’ve been waiting for?

Now consider these words from (Philippians 2:3-4):

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Recently, I suffered a traumatic head injury and was in need of urgent treatment. Life Flight was grounded because of the weather and I ended up being transported by ambulance the 140 miles or so to University hospital in San Antonio where the trauma team there took great care of me and takes great care of EVERY patient brought to them – they put me on the road to recovery.

A few days ago I had to return again by ambulance for what I thought was nothing but what doctors thought might have been a stroke. Thankfully, it was not. But on that occasion I became angry and frustrated because I was still there and was no being so urgently tended to; to be honest I became inconvenienced. Then it dawned on me that the team, which weeks earlier had been doing everything to get me on the road to recovery was doing the same for others who were like I had been and worse and in urgent need of help.

They were helping others and I began to deeply regret my attitude.

In reality, that team of interns, doctors, surgeons and nurses were doing what every believer is called to do – they were esteeming others as greater or more important than themselves.

Jesus, our great Physician did that too!

In (Luke 5:31-32) we read that Jesus said: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Were the Pharisees – is anyone righteous? No, but some people in their sin and self righteousness don’t know how urgent their need is of our great Physician. I bring the passage up however because of the lengths that Jesus went to in order to make sin sick souls well: Jesus laid His life down for the sake of sinners and enemies of God – for our sake (see John 10:11) and in obedience to His Father’s will (see Luke 22:42, John 4:34). In a sense, Jesus esteemed us better than Himself (see Philippians 2:5-11); His Father was the most important person in Jesus’ life and fulfilling His Father’s mission was all that mattered to Him.

The most important mission for the EMT’s neurologists, neurosurgeons, doctors and nurses at University hospital is saving the lives of others. Likewise, the most important people in our lives ought to be those in urgent need of forgiveness, grace and abundant life made available to them through our great Physician Jesus Christ; and our greatest mission is to care enough about them to point them to Him, to love them like He loves us John 13:34, 15:12) and to esteem them – to put them before ourselves.

Who and what is most important to you? Will you join me in moving self out of the way for the sake of others?

Lord, help us move from being focused on ourselves, our lives and our to-do lists that we might become focused on the needs of those around us instead.